Improvement in tubs for distilling essential oils



B. P. VAN MARTER. TUB PoR DISTILLING ESSENTIAL OILS.

No' 86,115" Patented Jan, 19, 1869.

m W @if W D if l lBARTON?. VAN MARTER, OF LYONS,NEW YRK.

LanmPaaniN. schiedam .Tanta/,y 19,1869.

, l-To all 'whom it ma/y concern,-

Be it known that I, BARTON P. VAN MARTER, of Lyons, in thecountyof Wayne, and in the State of New York, have invented an Improved Tub for Distilling Essential Oils; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, 4rei'er-` ence beingy had to the accompanying drawing, making a part of this specication, in which- Figure 1 is avertical central section of iig. 2, upon the line zas.

Figure 2 is a top view, with the cover removed.

Letters of likename and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

In tubs heretofore usedfor distilling essential oils, a false bottom was provided, about four .inches less in diameter than the inside of the tub, and placed about four inches above the real bottom, and steam admitted through the side of said tub between the bottoms.

This method of introducing the steam was open to serious objections, however, as it was not evenly andV thoroughly distributed through the plants, whereby more time was consumed in extracting the oils than ,would otherwise be required.

Another serious objection arose from the diiiiculty experienced in liing or emptying the tubs. The top of each tub was closed'bya head, similar to those in barrels, having in its centre a hole' some two feet in diameter, through which the operator. was obliged to pack and discharge the mint. 1- This was atedious and diiiioult operation, it being necessary that a man should get into the tub and arrange the mint, as passed through the opening, and, after distillation, the straw was slowly removed by means of a hook.

To render the opening steam-tight, a tapen'ng plug was fitted thereto, after having beencoated with a paste made oi' wheat-heur, and secured in placeby means of a stick of timber, one end of which rested upon said plug, while the other end was'crowded beneath the beams above.

The object of my invention is to obviatefthese objections; and

It consists- First, in introducing the steam through an opening in the bottom of the tub, and disseminating it through the mint by means of a convex perforated plate of sheet-metal, placed directly over said opening.

Second, in so constructing the tub as that the entire cover may be readily removed from or adjusted thereto, at the will of the operator, and, in connection therewith, the means provided for securing said cover in place when closed.

Third, in the employment oia rubber ring, secured Within a groove in the under side of the cover, and resting upon the upper ends of the staves, by means oi' which, when pressure is applied to said cover, a steam-tight joint is easily produced.

In the annexed drawing- A represents the tub, of the usual form and construction, mounted upon and secured to a beam, B,

'Through the centre of the bottom of the tub C, is an aperture, c, for the admission of steam, directly over which, and secured to said bottom, isa perforated plate of sheet-metal, D, made convex upon its upper side, the object of which is to prevent the mint from pressing down upon and closing thev opening c, and also to more thoroughly distribute the steam. through the mass of plants.

E represents the cover, strengthened by three crossbars, F F F, upon. its upper side, and provided with thleeor more stopsor guides, e c, so arranged upon its under side as to just shut into the tub, and hold the cover in place.

Secured within a groove cut in the under side oi' the cover E, is a ring 'of rubber, G, which, when said cove-r is in place, rests upon the upper ends of the stares of the tub, a11d by means of which, when sufficient pressure is applied to the cover, a steam-tight joint is produced.

In order-to secure the cover firmly in place, and, at the same time, topermit fof its ready removal when desired, the following-described'devices are used:

Two rods, H Hhaving upon the upper end of each a link,'are fastened within the beam B, and 'extend upward, upon opposite sides of the tub, to the top of the cover. One end-1of a strong bar, I, is passed through one 'of the links, when, by `pressing down upon the opposite end, the cover is forced down upon the tub4 until a perfect bearing is secured for the rubber.

The lever is fastened in place hy passing the oppoof lling. and discharging, in one-fourth the time formerly reduired, and for which two men were necessary. Also, by the use ofthe rubber ring for securing a steam- 'tight joint, in connection with the devices for pressing down and fastening the cover, there is effected a saving 'of at least one half hour each time that the operation is performed. Second, by means of the perforated plate, the steam is more thoroughly and evenly disseminated' through the mint, 4and a better result produced in less time, and, consequently, expense.

Havingthus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The employment of the convex-shaped, perforated metal plate l), whenarrauged to operate substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

I ing the cover E in place, consisting ofthe beam B,

`Als0, the cover E, when provided with the rubber'- tom C, disk D,-cover E, rubber ling G, rods H H', and ring G, substantially as described, and for the purpose bar I. A v set forth. In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have here- Also, the devices used for pressing down and securunto set my hand, this 24th day of December, 1868.

B. P. VAN MARTER.'

vrods H II, and bar I, constructed und arranged sub- `Witnesses:

' smut-muy as herein specified. A

FRED. BENNETT,

Also .the still, consisting of the tub A, beam B, boi;- EMMA BENNETT. 

